It’s very common for individuals to experience tinnitus. Something like 20 million individuals routinely suffer from persistent tinnitus so intense that it becomes burdensome. And there are also more prevalent presentations of tinnitus which are much more mild and intermittent and are also easier to deal with.
When you hear sounds in your ears that don’t have an external source and no one else can hear them, that’s tinnitus. This might be a ringing in the ears or a buzzing sound you can’t get rid of. Although hearing loss is frequently accompanied by tinnitus, there isn’t always a cause-and-effect connection between the two.
In fact, there are a considerable variety of types of tinnitus. And each one will require a different treatment approach.
Tinnitus – exactly what is it?
So, what is tinnitus and where does it stem from? Well, it’s significant to mention that not all kinds of tinnitus are the same. Regardless of the particular cause, the symptoms will be similar. But it’s still essential to identify the cause in order to successfully treat the symptoms.
In some instances, concussions or other traumatic brain injuries or neurological issues can be the cause. Hearing loss due to age can be another aspect that can trigger tinnitus. The following are a few other possible causes:
- Neurological tinnitus: Issues with the ear aren’t always the cause of tinnitus. The brain itself can sometimes be the cause. If your baseline neurological functions are weakened by injury it can trigger neurological tinnitus. This means that the typical communication between your brain and ears isn’t functioning correctly. The result is that you hear a phantom sound that might not be there. A stroke, concussion, or brain injury can all be the underlying sources of tinnitus, as well as others. As the brain heals, neurological tinnitus will, in some instances, go away on its own. For others, it could be permanent.
- Subjective tinnitus: When you’re the only one who can hear the sound of your tinnitus, which is quite common, hearing specialists will refer to your condition as a subjective tinnitus. Lots of other forms of tinnitus also fall into this category. Neurological tinnitus, for instance, is often also subjective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus can present as lots of different sound types, including ringing, buzzing, squeals, whistles, roars, and others.
- Objective tinnitus: When the sound you’re hearing in your ears is an actual, verifiable sound, it’s referred to as objective tinnitus. Objective tinnitus is not really as common as subjective tinnitus, but it still occurs. Typically, this means you’re experiencing something called pulsatile tinnitus, which occurs when you’re hearing your pulse or circulatory system. For people with objective tinnitus, that pulsing sound usually seems louder than it ought to.
- Somatic tinnitus: Tinnitus sounds are often quite constant for many people coping with them. That’s true for both subjective and objective tinnitus. But, somatic tinnitus is different. This form of tinnitus becomes more extreme when you move around. Normally, somatic tinnitus will cause the symptoms to become more intense when you move your head or neck.
Frequently, people will have more than one type of tinnitus at the same time. You may have subjective tinnitus and neurological tinnitus at the same time, for example. Identifying the cause of your symptoms can help your hearing specialist decide the best tinnitus treatment strategy for your symptoms.
Finding tinnitus support
If your tinnitus is here this minute and gone the next, you most likely don’t have to do anything about it. But if your tinnitus sticks around or returns frequently, it may have real and severe impacts on your day-to-day life. That’s when it’s especially important to speak with a hearing specialist to get specialized care and find some tinnitus relief.
After we determine the root cause of your symptoms, there are a number of treatment strategies we can utilize. Several treatments can make the sounds you’re hearing less noticeable. Other treatment options can mask the sound you’re hearing.
Generally, there is no cure for tinnitus, although it can usually be successfully managed. We will work with you to create treatments that work for your symptoms. This will help you enjoy life again by moving your symptoms into the background where they can be more easily ignored.
